Newfoundland Park, the Somme. ©2014 Mike St Maur Sheil / Mary Evans Collection
Sir John French was no longer commander of the BEF on the Western Front. He was replaced after the battle of Loos by the ambitious and controversial Douglas Haig, who remained in post throughout the remainder of the war. Haig was the architect of the disastrous battle of the Somme which claimed so many British lives in this fateful year of the war. The disastrous Gallipoli campaign thankfully ended in the spring of 1916, but Haig’s conduct of the Somme battle was to claim more lives than ever thought possible.
Ypres
Private Hunt 10 January 1916
Allan Hunt was the son of Charles and Annie Hunt of 182 Brook street in Great Bedwyn. His father was born in 1854 and his mother in 1856, and there were ten children, including Allan. Charles Hunt was bricklayer, but by 1911, Alan followed a different trade, as a farm labourer.
He enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers at Uxbridge, and served with the 4th Battalion. His army number was 3822. This was a regular battalion, stationed at Parkhurst, Isle of Wight, on the outbreak of war. There were over 700 reservists in the battalion called up in August. The battalion fought at Mons, and two men were awarded the Victoria Cross in defending the Nimy bridge. The battalion was part of 9th Brigade, 3rd Division.
Allan Hunt joined his battalion in France in March 1915. He served on the Ypres Salient, at Messines, Hooge, and Bellewaarde. After fighting at Bellewaarde at the end of September, the battalion was not involved in any more major fighting until March 1916 at St. Eloi (map II).
Private Hunt 10 January 1916
Allan Hunt was the son of Charles and Annie Hunt of 182 Brook street in Great Bedwyn. His father was born in 1854 and his mother in 1856, and there were ten children, including Allan. Charles Hunt was bricklayer, but by 1911, Alan followed a different trade, as a farm labourer.
He enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers at Uxbridge, and served with the 4th Battalion. His army number was 3822. This was a regular battalion, stationed at Parkhurst, Isle of Wight, on the outbreak of war. There were over 700 reservists in the battalion called up in August. The battalion fought at Mons, and two men were awarded the Victoria Cross in defending the Nimy bridge. The battalion was part of 9th Brigade, 3rd Division.
Allan Hunt joined his battalion in France in March 1915. He served on the Ypres Salient, at Messines, Hooge, and Bellewaarde. After fighting at Bellewaarde at the end of September, the battalion was not involved in any more major fighting until March 1916 at St. Eloi (map II).
In the Winter of 1915, the battlefield sank into an uneasy state of inactivity where death continued to claim victims through what was euphemistically called trench wastage. Allan Hunt was probably one such victim. The 3rd Division held the front line between St.Eloi and Hill 60 (off map I). Part of the line included the Ypres to Comines canal, and it included a feature called the Bluff, made of spoil from the excavation of the canal. In January 1916, this contested feature provided excellent observation of the surrounding area, and was held by the British. On February 14th, it was seized by the Germans, but recaptured in March. This is the area where Allan Hunt died.
Allan Hunt was 25 years of age, and he is buried at Dickebusch New Military cemetery. Three men from the battalion, including Allan Hunt, died on January 10th, and they lie next to each other. His grave is Plot 1 Row F10, those of the other two men F9 and F8. His name is remembered on the War Memorial at Great Bedwyn. His brother Frank died in Mesopotamia, only a few months later in April 1916.
Allan Hunt was 25 years of age, and he is buried at Dickebusch New Military cemetery. Three men from the battalion, including Allan Hunt, died on January 10th, and they lie next to each other. His grave is Plot 1 Row F10, those of the other two men F9 and F8. His name is remembered on the War Memorial at Great Bedwyn. His brother Frank died in Mesopotamia, only a few months later in April 1916.
La Bassée
Private Martin 10 January 1916
Henry Martin was the son of James and Elizabeth Martin of Great Bedwyn.
He enlisted in the Berkshire Regiment, and served with the 5th battalion, a Kitchener battalion raised in August 1914. After training in England the battalion was sent to France in May 1915, and was deployed near Ypres at Ploegsterrt Wood in June. In September, the battalion fought at the battle of Loos. It is probable that Henry Martin was involved in all of these actions.
The battalion rested at Bethune after the battle of Loos. On New Years day, 1916, the battalion returned to the front line at Festubert, and held part of the front line north of La Bassée canal at Givenchy. This sector of the front line was over 1500 meters long, and it was divided into two subsectors. The right B1 sector was 250 meters from the enemy trenches, but the left B2 sector was only 30 meters distant, and there were often casualties on a daily basis, the euphemistic "trench wastage". On January 9th, the battalion returned to the support line after a period in reserve billets at Les Choquaux, a hamlet west of Locon (Vieille Chapelle):
"Battalion marched by companies at I hour Intervals to WINDY CORNER D at 10.30. C at 11.30am. B at 1pm. Hd Qr. party 1.30 and A at 2pm. A Coy went to Le Plantin, 'D' in the Givenchy Keeps, B and C Village scheme. Battn relieved East Surreys as the Support Battalion. Givenchy shelled at intervals throughout the day"
Immediately behind the frontline were a number of keeps, often cellars of ruined buildings fortified with sandbags. Behind these keeps lay the village support line, which consisted of Windy Corner, Festubert, and Epinette. Additional keeps were founded here, including Givenchy keep, Windy Corner and Le Plantin. The Royal Berkshire war diary for January 10 recorded intermittent shelling which unfortunately killed Henry Martin:
“Enemy shelled Keeps at intervals during morning and also Village line, 3 shells hit Headquarters of Left Battn. 8p.m. Shells burst amongst working party of Suffolks Regt and a carrying party of our Regiment. 1 Killed 6 wounded”
Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland. NLS 36X NW La Bassee 1:20,000. Henry martin was buried at cemetery west of Windy Corner. Givenchy Keep situated in centre of village by church. On January 11th, battalion moved into front line trenches immediately east of le Plantin
Henry Martin is buried at Guards Cemetery Windy Corner. In 1920, a special cross was erected in memory of 9 men who had no known grave but were believed to lie in the cemetery. Henry Martin was one of these men. Today he is remembered at the cemetery by Special Memorial stone 12. He is also remembered on the war memorial in Great Bedwyn churchyard.
Ypres
Lieutenant Wilberforce - Bell 26 January 1916
Reginald Herbert Wilberforce - Bell was the son of Captain Harold Wilberforce - Bell and Lucy Wilson of the White House in East Grafton. The White House lies opposite Park cottage. His father was an Indian army officer who fought in the Afghanistan and Boer wars, and in October 1916, he published 'The History of Kathiawad from the Earliest Times' in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. His grandfather, William Henry Bell married a Jane Wilberfoss, and it was Harold who assumed the maternal name by deed poll, thus creating the family double-barrelled surname.
Reginald Wilberforce - Bell was born on 9th June 1889 in Edinburgh. After an education which included Ellesmere school in Shropshire, and Oxford, he worked as a fruit and wheat merchant, living out west at Battleford in Saskatchewan, Canada. Before the war, he joined the 105th militia Regiment in Saskatoon, but in October 1914, he enlisted in the 28th battalion, the Saskatchewan Regiment. He served as the officer for 16 Platoon D company. Thus a member of an English family with a strong military tradition became a Canadian soldier.
After training in Canada, his battalion sailed for England in May 1915, and arrived at Devonport. After further training at Otterpool camp, a satellite of Shorneliffe Camp at Folkstone in Kent, the battalion sailed to France in September, and was landed at Boulogne. Reginald made his last will on September 8th at Otterpool camp. Towards the end of September, the battalion went into trenches for the first time at Kemmel, near Ypres.
Reginald Wilberforce - Bell was wounded with concussion on October 8th 1915, shortly after 17.00. This was the first day of the battalion’s second tour in the trenches. The Germans exploded two mines in a salient under D Company trenches, called G1 and G2, in an area known as Peckham Corner. Earlier in the year, the Germans had successfully exploded several mines, before the British had been able to establish counter mines. The corner was overlooked from German lines, and posed a severe threat from sniping. In July 1917, the British would explode the Peckham Farm mine, one of a series of mines used in the battle of Messines.
On October 8th 1915, there were heavy casualties among the men of 'D' company and the battalion bombing section, with 19 men killed, 30 men wounded, and 7 missing. However, despite heaving shelling and a bombing attack, the Germans were unable to take advantage of the ensuing chaos. The Canadians held their original line including the rim of the crater.
"The casualties played havoc with the strength of 'D' Company, commanded by Major C. R. Hill, and included some of the most popular non - commissioned officers of the regiment. It was a rare experience for an absolutely new battalion. Palpably aware of the fact that they were opposed by 'green' troops, the German bombers left their trenches, expecting to find the 28th wiped out and incapable of any resistance. Thus deluding themselves, they made determined efforts to occupy the mine craters-but without avail. The new Canadians stood their ground and drove the enemy back with disconcerting and sustained rapid fire and a shower of hand grenades".
[The story of the 28th(north-west) battalion 1914-1918 by GE Hewitt]
Reginald Wilberforce - Bell was evacuated to England, and ultimately to a nursing home, at 41 Walter Road, in Swansea. Unfortunately, he never recovered from his wounds. He was 26 years old when he died. His body lies in Danygraig cemetery in Swansea, plot T975. The grave, which is not of Portland stone, records the manner of his wounding in Flanders. His name is also remembered on the memorial at East Grafton church, at Ellesmere school, and in Canada.
Lieutenant Wilberforce - Bell 26 January 1916
Reginald Herbert Wilberforce - Bell was the son of Captain Harold Wilberforce - Bell and Lucy Wilson of the White House in East Grafton. The White House lies opposite Park cottage. His father was an Indian army officer who fought in the Afghanistan and Boer wars, and in October 1916, he published 'The History of Kathiawad from the Earliest Times' in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. His grandfather, William Henry Bell married a Jane Wilberfoss, and it was Harold who assumed the maternal name by deed poll, thus creating the family double-barrelled surname.
Reginald Wilberforce - Bell was born on 9th June 1889 in Edinburgh. After an education which included Ellesmere school in Shropshire, and Oxford, he worked as a fruit and wheat merchant, living out west at Battleford in Saskatchewan, Canada. Before the war, he joined the 105th militia Regiment in Saskatoon, but in October 1914, he enlisted in the 28th battalion, the Saskatchewan Regiment. He served as the officer for 16 Platoon D company. Thus a member of an English family with a strong military tradition became a Canadian soldier.
After training in Canada, his battalion sailed for England in May 1915, and arrived at Devonport. After further training at Otterpool camp, a satellite of Shorneliffe Camp at Folkstone in Kent, the battalion sailed to France in September, and was landed at Boulogne. Reginald made his last will on September 8th at Otterpool camp. Towards the end of September, the battalion went into trenches for the first time at Kemmel, near Ypres.
Reginald Wilberforce - Bell was wounded with concussion on October 8th 1915, shortly after 17.00. This was the first day of the battalion’s second tour in the trenches. The Germans exploded two mines in a salient under D Company trenches, called G1 and G2, in an area known as Peckham Corner. Earlier in the year, the Germans had successfully exploded several mines, before the British had been able to establish counter mines. The corner was overlooked from German lines, and posed a severe threat from sniping. In July 1917, the British would explode the Peckham Farm mine, one of a series of mines used in the battle of Messines.
On October 8th 1915, there were heavy casualties among the men of 'D' company and the battalion bombing section, with 19 men killed, 30 men wounded, and 7 missing. However, despite heaving shelling and a bombing attack, the Germans were unable to take advantage of the ensuing chaos. The Canadians held their original line including the rim of the crater.
"The casualties played havoc with the strength of 'D' Company, commanded by Major C. R. Hill, and included some of the most popular non - commissioned officers of the regiment. It was a rare experience for an absolutely new battalion. Palpably aware of the fact that they were opposed by 'green' troops, the German bombers left their trenches, expecting to find the 28th wiped out and incapable of any resistance. Thus deluding themselves, they made determined efforts to occupy the mine craters-but without avail. The new Canadians stood their ground and drove the enemy back with disconcerting and sustained rapid fire and a shower of hand grenades".
[The story of the 28th(north-west) battalion 1914-1918 by GE Hewitt]
Reginald Wilberforce - Bell was evacuated to England, and ultimately to a nursing home, at 41 Walter Road, in Swansea. Unfortunately, he never recovered from his wounds. He was 26 years old when he died. His body lies in Danygraig cemetery in Swansea, plot T975. The grave, which is not of Portland stone, records the manner of his wounding in Flanders. His name is also remembered on the memorial at East Grafton church, at Ellesmere school, and in Canada.
Reginald Wilberforce - Bell’s elder brother, Percy, was a regular soldier, who enlisted with the 1st battalion, the Royal West Kent regiment. His battalion was sent to France at the beginning of August 1914, and was among the very first units of the British army to engage with the Germans at Mons. On August 23rd, the perimeter defences of the Condé canal line were threatened, and the battalion deployed around a crossroads at St. Ghislain. Percy Wilberforce - Bell commanded 2 Platoon A Company, which enjoyed a field of fire of some 500 yards. The company remained in position the best part of the day, holding off a very much larger force of Germans. Percy Wilberforce - Bell was later awarded the Military Cross for this action. In September 1914, he was wounded in action on the river Aisne at Missy bridge. The wound was nearly fatal, but his life was saved by Captain Robert Dolbey, a regimental surgeon:
“After plugging the furiously bleeding neck wound of a Royal West Kent officer he remarks ‘very seldom is it that a surgeon has the satisfaction of knowing that he has most surely snatched a soul from death’ ”
[A Regimental Surgeon in War and Prison by Captain RV Dolbey]
When Robert Dolbey died in 1937, Percy Bell paid tribute to him in the London Times [November 16].
***
“And those who have not swords can still die upon them”
[JRR Tolkien Lord of the Rings]
Women and children die in wars. In 1916, there were accidents in munitions factories, and there was a home front, threatened by German cruisers and Zeppelin raids. Many women sometimes put themselves in danger by volunteering for service overseas as nurses. One of these ladies was Madeline Lucy Wilberforce - Bell from East Grafton. She died on 30th September 1919. She contracted her illness while serving in a military hospital during the war. Unlike the menfolk of Bedwyn, no women are remembered on local memorials. Perhaps she should be.
“After plugging the furiously bleeding neck wound of a Royal West Kent officer he remarks ‘very seldom is it that a surgeon has the satisfaction of knowing that he has most surely snatched a soul from death’ ”
[A Regimental Surgeon in War and Prison by Captain RV Dolbey]
When Robert Dolbey died in 1937, Percy Bell paid tribute to him in the London Times [November 16].
***
“And those who have not swords can still die upon them”
[JRR Tolkien Lord of the Rings]
Women and children die in wars. In 1916, there were accidents in munitions factories, and there was a home front, threatened by German cruisers and Zeppelin raids. Many women sometimes put themselves in danger by volunteering for service overseas as nurses. One of these ladies was Madeline Lucy Wilberforce - Bell from East Grafton. She died on 30th September 1919. She contracted her illness while serving in a military hospital during the war. Unlike the menfolk of Bedwyn, no women are remembered on local memorials. Perhaps she should be.
Somme
Private Nutley 20 February 1916
Frederick A Nutley was the son of E(dwin) Nutley of Lower Wanborough, near Swindon. There were two or three Nutley families in Burbage, but his family lived in Bishopstone during the war. He may have lived or worked in Burbage for a short period of time before 1914.
He enlisted in the Wiltshire Regiment and was posted to the 2nd battalion. On 19th of December 1915, the battalion was part of the 21st Brigade, in the 30th Division. In early 1916, this division was on the Somme, and on January 10th, the 2nd battalion made its first visit to the frontline at Carnoy. The frontline companies occupied the northern part of a strip of woodland called Talus Boisé, which lay north of the village, on the divisional boundary with the 18th Division. A railway track ran parallel with the woodland and continued across German lines into a combe or ravine. The men at the front line were rotated between reserve positions in Carnoy, and a rest area at Bray sur Somme. Food and other supplies were brought to Carnoy every night.
Private Nutley 20 February 1916
Frederick A Nutley was the son of E(dwin) Nutley of Lower Wanborough, near Swindon. There were two or three Nutley families in Burbage, but his family lived in Bishopstone during the war. He may have lived or worked in Burbage for a short period of time before 1914.
He enlisted in the Wiltshire Regiment and was posted to the 2nd battalion. On 19th of December 1915, the battalion was part of the 21st Brigade, in the 30th Division. In early 1916, this division was on the Somme, and on January 10th, the 2nd battalion made its first visit to the frontline at Carnoy. The frontline companies occupied the northern part of a strip of woodland called Talus Boisé, which lay north of the village, on the divisional boundary with the 18th Division. A railway track ran parallel with the woodland and continued across German lines into a combe or ravine. The men at the front line were rotated between reserve positions in Carnoy, and a rest area at Bray sur Somme. Food and other supplies were brought to Carnoy every night.
According to some sources, there was a tacit agreement between enemies not to shell each other when rations were brought up to the front. At the beginning of 1916, the Somme had an enviable reputation as a quiet area, but it was sadly not quiet enough for Frederick Nutley. The days before and after his death, the author of the battalion war diary had little to report. The only comments of note throughout these days were concerned with the weather.
“Cold dry day. Gas attack made on the French divisions on our right. 'A' coy relieved 'C' coy in the trenches. Enemy put up a lot of red lights in the evening”
Another soldier from the battalion had been killed 5 days earlier. There were no major actions, and it has to be assumed that Frederick Nutley was one of the many victims of trench wastage. The battalion withdrew from Carnoy on February 27th after a period of heavy snowfall.
Frederick Nutley is buried in Carnoy Military Cemetery grave T12 on the Somme. He is also remembered on the war memorial at St. Mary the Virgin's church in Bishopstone.
“Cold dry day. Gas attack made on the French divisions on our right. 'A' coy relieved 'C' coy in the trenches. Enemy put up a lot of red lights in the evening”
Another soldier from the battalion had been killed 5 days earlier. There were no major actions, and it has to be assumed that Frederick Nutley was one of the many victims of trench wastage. The battalion withdrew from Carnoy on February 27th after a period of heavy snowfall.
Frederick Nutley is buried in Carnoy Military Cemetery grave T12 on the Somme. He is also remembered on the war memorial at St. Mary the Virgin's church in Bishopstone.
Mesopotamia
The failure of Major General Townsend to capture Baghdad in December 1915 resulted in the retreat and encirclement of his command at Kut-al-Amara. A number of expeditions were launched to break the siege, but none of them were successful. Major General Townsend finally surrendered his army to the Turks on April 29th 1916.
Private Flippance 09 April 1916
Private Mills 09 April 1916
Private Hunt 05 April 1916
William James Flippance was the son of Henry James and Mary Elizabeth Flippance of Grately, in Hampshire. The war was not kind to the Flippance family. William was born in Milton Lilbourne as were two cousins (?) whose lives were also lost in the war. George Noah Flippance of Hougamont Farm, Collingbourne, was killed in October 1914, and James Flippance of the French Horn pub near Pewsey was killed in October 1916.
Henry Mills was the son of William and Elizabeth Mills who lived in Great Bedwyn. He married Emma Hannah Mills and their home was 5 Council cottages in Chisbury.
Frederick Hunt was the brother of Allan, who was killed a few months earlier in January. It must have been terribly distressing to their parents, Charles and Annie Hunt of Brook street, Great Bedwyn.
The three men enlisted in the Wiltshire regiment, and served with the 5th battalion. Henry Mills was in D company. They survived the horrors of the Gallipoli campaign only to be posted to Mesopotamia. The battalion embarked for Mudros in January 1916, bound for Egypt. The battalion left Port Said on February 14th, in order to support the ill-fated operations to relieve Kut-al-Amara. The 5th battalion disembarked at Kuweit and was transferred to Basra by steamship, arriving there on March 4th. From there, steam river boats took the battalion up the Tigris river towards Kut-al-Amara. The final attempt to break the Turkish positions resulted in the battle of Sannaiyat which ended in failure on April 22.
The failure of Major General Townsend to capture Baghdad in December 1915 resulted in the retreat and encirclement of his command at Kut-al-Amara. A number of expeditions were launched to break the siege, but none of them were successful. Major General Townsend finally surrendered his army to the Turks on April 29th 1916.
Private Flippance 09 April 1916
Private Mills 09 April 1916
Private Hunt 05 April 1916
William James Flippance was the son of Henry James and Mary Elizabeth Flippance of Grately, in Hampshire. The war was not kind to the Flippance family. William was born in Milton Lilbourne as were two cousins (?) whose lives were also lost in the war. George Noah Flippance of Hougamont Farm, Collingbourne, was killed in October 1914, and James Flippance of the French Horn pub near Pewsey was killed in October 1916.
Henry Mills was the son of William and Elizabeth Mills who lived in Great Bedwyn. He married Emma Hannah Mills and their home was 5 Council cottages in Chisbury.
Frederick Hunt was the brother of Allan, who was killed a few months earlier in January. It must have been terribly distressing to their parents, Charles and Annie Hunt of Brook street, Great Bedwyn.
The three men enlisted in the Wiltshire regiment, and served with the 5th battalion. Henry Mills was in D company. They survived the horrors of the Gallipoli campaign only to be posted to Mesopotamia. The battalion embarked for Mudros in January 1916, bound for Egypt. The battalion left Port Said on February 14th, in order to support the ill-fated operations to relieve Kut-al-Amara. The 5th battalion disembarked at Kuweit and was transferred to Basra by steamship, arriving there on March 4th. From there, steam river boats took the battalion up the Tigris river towards Kut-al-Amara. The final attempt to break the Turkish positions resulted in the battle of Sannaiyat which ended in failure on April 22.
On April 5th, a series of attacks were launched near Fallahiyeh. The 5th battalion was part of 40th Brigade, 13th Western Division, and the brigade suffered numerous casualties in a disastrous attack made over open ground. At the end of the day, there were over 2,000 casualties in the Division. Frederick Hunt died on this day.
The battle continued on April 9th, and the 5th battalion took over part of the Sannaiyat position held by the 7th Division. An assault on the Turkish defences unfortunately foundered in marshland, and the men were subjected to heavy machine gun fire with little cover. The battalion war diary records the first day of fighting at Sannaiyat which claimed the life of Henry Mills and William Flippance :
“Advanced 4.20a.m. Direction lost on left owing to sniping and small marsh and Turkish starlights coming from disputed direction. Lost our bearings after machine gunfire. Confusion in darkness. Troops dug in about 650yds from enemy. All day and night lines strengthened by men coming in from front. Many wounded crawled in and many were collected”
The battalion lost 23 men, including the commanding officer, Lt. Col RCB Throckmorton. There were also 163 wounded men and 42 missing men. Four days earlier in a previous action at Falahiyeh, the battalion had lost 17 men, with another 150 men wounded and 17 men missing. After April 9th, the battalion was at little more than half-strength.
William Flippance has no known grave, and is remembered in Basra at the Basra Memorial, Panel 34. He is also remembered on the roll of honour in Burbage church, and on the roll of honour in Collingbourne Ducis church.
Henry Mills too has no known grave and is remembered in at the Basra Memorial, Panel 31. He is also remembered on the roll of honour in Great Bedwyn church. He was 45 years old when he died, much older than many of his comrades.
Frank Hunt has no known grave, and is remembered in Basra at the Basra Memorial, Panel 30. His name is remembered on the War Memorial at Great Bedwyn.
The battle continued on April 9th, and the 5th battalion took over part of the Sannaiyat position held by the 7th Division. An assault on the Turkish defences unfortunately foundered in marshland, and the men were subjected to heavy machine gun fire with little cover. The battalion war diary records the first day of fighting at Sannaiyat which claimed the life of Henry Mills and William Flippance :
“Advanced 4.20a.m. Direction lost on left owing to sniping and small marsh and Turkish starlights coming from disputed direction. Lost our bearings after machine gunfire. Confusion in darkness. Troops dug in about 650yds from enemy. All day and night lines strengthened by men coming in from front. Many wounded crawled in and many were collected”
The battalion lost 23 men, including the commanding officer, Lt. Col RCB Throckmorton. There were also 163 wounded men and 42 missing men. Four days earlier in a previous action at Falahiyeh, the battalion had lost 17 men, with another 150 men wounded and 17 men missing. After April 9th, the battalion was at little more than half-strength.
William Flippance has no known grave, and is remembered in Basra at the Basra Memorial, Panel 34. He is also remembered on the roll of honour in Burbage church, and on the roll of honour in Collingbourne Ducis church.
Henry Mills too has no known grave and is remembered in at the Basra Memorial, Panel 31. He is also remembered on the roll of honour in Great Bedwyn church. He was 45 years old when he died, much older than many of his comrades.
Frank Hunt has no known grave, and is remembered in Basra at the Basra Memorial, Panel 30. His name is remembered on the War Memorial at Great Bedwyn.
Armentieres
Captain Sands 28 April 1916
Leslie Kelham Sands was the son of the Reverend Hubert Sands and Lucy Allport, of the Vicarage in Burbage. He arrived in the parish with his family in 1913. Lucy Sands came from Warwickshire, and Leslie Sands was born at Small Heath. He was educated at King Edward’s School, Birmingham, and Oriel College, Oxford.
He applied for a commission at the outbreak of war, and he enlisted with the Wiltshire regiment. However, he was posted the 10th battalion in the Lancashire Fusiliers. This battalion was formed at Bury in September 1914 as part of Kitchener’s New Army. In February 1915, Leslie Sands was promoted to Lieutenant, and in July he was sent to France with his battalion.
In February 1916, the battalion was involved in an operation near Hill 60, to the east of Ypres. The Lancashire Fusiliers defended a narrow ridge called the Bluff, which had been captured from the Germans the previous month, and they suffered several casualties. However by March 29th, the battalion was out of the front line, and in billets, sharing a village with an Advanced Dressing Station near Armentieres. When Leslie Sands was wounded on April 23rd, there had been little or no fighting, and in the last 10 days of April there was only one other fatality. The battalion was in trenches at l'Epinette, south east of Armentieres, from the 22nd to the 30th April, and it was here that Leslie was mortally wounded.
"Our eldest son, Captain Leslie Kelham Sands, of the 10th Lancashire Fusiliers, was severely wounded by a German machine gun, while on battalion duty with his company, soon after dark on Easter Day, April 23rd. He was at once taken to a hospital behind the lines, and received every possible attention, but only recovered consciousness for a short time, and passed peacefully away on Friday morning April 28th"
[Reverend Hubert Sands]
Leslie Sands died of his wounds at Number 2 Casualty Clearing Station in Bailleul. He is buried at Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension Nord plot II. row D. grave 57. He is remembered on the war memorial at Burbage, and the Roll of Honours for King Edward’s School, Birmingham, and Oriel College, Oxford. On August 3rd 1916, his effects were returned to his father: £292 11s. 3d. A poor return for the loss of a son.
Captain Sands 28 April 1916
Leslie Kelham Sands was the son of the Reverend Hubert Sands and Lucy Allport, of the Vicarage in Burbage. He arrived in the parish with his family in 1913. Lucy Sands came from Warwickshire, and Leslie Sands was born at Small Heath. He was educated at King Edward’s School, Birmingham, and Oriel College, Oxford.
He applied for a commission at the outbreak of war, and he enlisted with the Wiltshire regiment. However, he was posted the 10th battalion in the Lancashire Fusiliers. This battalion was formed at Bury in September 1914 as part of Kitchener’s New Army. In February 1915, Leslie Sands was promoted to Lieutenant, and in July he was sent to France with his battalion.
In February 1916, the battalion was involved in an operation near Hill 60, to the east of Ypres. The Lancashire Fusiliers defended a narrow ridge called the Bluff, which had been captured from the Germans the previous month, and they suffered several casualties. However by March 29th, the battalion was out of the front line, and in billets, sharing a village with an Advanced Dressing Station near Armentieres. When Leslie Sands was wounded on April 23rd, there had been little or no fighting, and in the last 10 days of April there was only one other fatality. The battalion was in trenches at l'Epinette, south east of Armentieres, from the 22nd to the 30th April, and it was here that Leslie was mortally wounded.
"Our eldest son, Captain Leslie Kelham Sands, of the 10th Lancashire Fusiliers, was severely wounded by a German machine gun, while on battalion duty with his company, soon after dark on Easter Day, April 23rd. He was at once taken to a hospital behind the lines, and received every possible attention, but only recovered consciousness for a short time, and passed peacefully away on Friday morning April 28th"
[Reverend Hubert Sands]
Leslie Sands died of his wounds at Number 2 Casualty Clearing Station in Bailleul. He is buried at Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension Nord plot II. row D. grave 57. He is remembered on the war memorial at Burbage, and the Roll of Honours for King Edward’s School, Birmingham, and Oriel College, Oxford. On August 3rd 1916, his effects were returned to his father: £292 11s. 3d. A poor return for the loss of a son.
The Reverend Hubert Sands nearly lost a second son, Havilland Allport Sands, to the war. He enlisted with the Royal Warwickshire regiment, was seriously wounded, but fortunately survived. In 1922, he followed in his father’s footsteps, when he was was ordained. In 1917, Hubert Sands was instrumental in organising the war memorial for Burbage parish. The story of the Burbage war memorial is described on the Burbage History website.
HMS Hampshire
Boy First Class Potter 5 June 1916
Frank Potter was the son of Charles Potter and Fanny Bartholomew from Great Bedwyn. The family moved to Wokingham before 1892. Frank would have had no connection with Bedwyn other than possible visits with family relatives. In the 1911 census for Wokingham, Frank, two elder brothers, and his father were described as domestic gardeners.
He enlisted in the Royal Navy and served on HMS Hampshire. The ship was ordered to Scapa Flow immediately after the end of the battle of Jutland in order to carry Lord Kitchener on a diplomatic mission to Russia. The ship saw little action at Jutland, but Frank Potter was almost certainly part of it.
HMS Hampshire sailed from Scapa Flow and passed west of the Orkney islands. Disaster struck when the ship hit a mine, one of several laid by a German submarine at the end of May. The ship sank in less than 15 minutes. Weather conditions were appalling, and the storm contributed to the loss of life as large waves smashed lifeboats against the side of the sinking ship. A total of 643 lives were lost; there were only 12 survivors.
Frank Potter was only 16 years old when he died. He is not remembered in Great Bedwyn, although doubtlessly many of local family, aunts, uncles, and cousins, would have grieved for him. Some of his mother's relations would also have grieved for the local members of the Bartholomew family who died in the war. Sadly he was not the only Potter lost to the war; two of his brothers were killed in 1917.
Boy First Class Potter 5 June 1916
Frank Potter was the son of Charles Potter and Fanny Bartholomew from Great Bedwyn. The family moved to Wokingham before 1892. Frank would have had no connection with Bedwyn other than possible visits with family relatives. In the 1911 census for Wokingham, Frank, two elder brothers, and his father were described as domestic gardeners.
He enlisted in the Royal Navy and served on HMS Hampshire. The ship was ordered to Scapa Flow immediately after the end of the battle of Jutland in order to carry Lord Kitchener on a diplomatic mission to Russia. The ship saw little action at Jutland, but Frank Potter was almost certainly part of it.
HMS Hampshire sailed from Scapa Flow and passed west of the Orkney islands. Disaster struck when the ship hit a mine, one of several laid by a German submarine at the end of May. The ship sank in less than 15 minutes. Weather conditions were appalling, and the storm contributed to the loss of life as large waves smashed lifeboats against the side of the sinking ship. A total of 643 lives were lost; there were only 12 survivors.
Frank Potter was only 16 years old when he died. He is not remembered in Great Bedwyn, although doubtlessly many of local family, aunts, uncles, and cousins, would have grieved for him. Some of his mother's relations would also have grieved for the local members of the Bartholomew family who died in the war. Sadly he was not the only Potter lost to the war; two of his brothers were killed in 1917.
Great Bedwyn
Private Hatter 21 June 1916
Herbert George Hatter was the son of George and Alice Hatter of 47 High Street, Great Bedwyn. His father was a carpenter, and he may have died by the time of the 1911 census.
Herbert Hatter enlisted with the London regiment between November 3, 1915, and December 7, 1915, and served in the 14th London Scottish battalion. However he was discharged within 3 or 4 months, and awarded a pension in February 1916. Whatever illness or injury afflicted him, he only survived another few more months.
Private Hatter 21 June 1916
Herbert George Hatter was the son of George and Alice Hatter of 47 High Street, Great Bedwyn. His father was a carpenter, and he may have died by the time of the 1911 census.
Herbert Hatter enlisted with the London regiment between November 3, 1915, and December 7, 1915, and served in the 14th London Scottish battalion. However he was discharged within 3 or 4 months, and awarded a pension in February 1916. Whatever illness or injury afflicted him, he only survived another few more months.
Herbert Hatter is buried in the churchyard at St. Mary's church, Great Bedwyn. His grave is numberd 73, and the stone is inscribed:
THY WILL BE DONE He was 19 years of age. He had several siblings, one of whom, Alfred, died in uniform during the war. Curiously he is also buried with his brother in Great Bedwyn. The names of both men appear on the war memorial in the churchyard. A third brother lies in the churchyard. He died in 1918 at the young age of 5. The same malady may have affected all three siblings. |
Somme
In July 1916, the battle of the Somme claimed lives on a scale never before imagined. On the first disastrous day of July 1st, nearly 20,000 British and Commonwealth lives were lost. Altogether there were over 60,000 casualties. Haig continued the battle into November, waging a war of attrition which probably destroyed as many British and Commonwealth lives as those of the Germans.
La Boisselle
Private Dobson 6 July 1916
Arthur James Dobson was born in Cadley, and was the son of Wallace and Mary Ann Holmes. His parents were from Ramsbury, and married in 1871. Before the war, Arthur Dobson worked with the Great Western Railway in Swindon.
He enlisted with the Wiltshire regiment and served in the 6th battalion. This was raised in Devizes in September 1914 as part of Kitchener’s New Army. The battalion was sent to France in July 1915 and first saw action at Pietre in support of the offensive at Loos. Arthur Dobson was probably with the battalion during this period.
In July 1916, the battle of the Somme claimed lives on a scale never before imagined. On the first disastrous day of July 1st, nearly 20,000 British and Commonwealth lives were lost. Altogether there were over 60,000 casualties. Haig continued the battle into November, waging a war of attrition which probably destroyed as many British and Commonwealth lives as those of the Germans.
La Boisselle
Private Dobson 6 July 1916
Arthur James Dobson was born in Cadley, and was the son of Wallace and Mary Ann Holmes. His parents were from Ramsbury, and married in 1871. Before the war, Arthur Dobson worked with the Great Western Railway in Swindon.
He enlisted with the Wiltshire regiment and served in the 6th battalion. This was raised in Devizes in September 1914 as part of Kitchener’s New Army. The battalion was sent to France in July 1915 and first saw action at Pietre in support of the offensive at Loos. Arthur Dobson was probably with the battalion during this period.
On July 1st 1916, the battalion was part of 19th Division which was held in reserve behind 34th Division. The battalion was ordered to attack the village of La Boisselle from the south, following the failure of the attack launched by the 34th Division. At 07.30, the battalion moved up to the infamous Tara Usna line of trenches, but orders to advance any further were subsequently cancelled. The men of the battalion was thus saved from the carnage of the first day of battle of the Somme.
The following day at 16.00, the battalion launched a successful attack in open order against German trenches south of La Bosielle. Two lines of trenches were captured. Casualties were nevertheless high: 39 men killed, 242 men wounded, and 35 men missing. The following day, a second attack was less successful. On the evening of July 8/9th, the battalion was withdrawn from the line.
Arthur Dobson was killed on July 6th. According to the battalion war diary, the period from 5th to 6th July was spent in reorganising the battalion. He therefore possibly survived 3 or 4 days of continuous fighting only to fall victim to artillery fire or sniping whilst on a working party. The area of La Boisselle remained decidedly unhealthy as it was constantly 'strafed' by the Germans.
He has no known grave, and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial Pier 13A. There is no local memorial, but he is remembered on the war memorial at Ramsbury.
The following day at 16.00, the battalion launched a successful attack in open order against German trenches south of La Bosielle. Two lines of trenches were captured. Casualties were nevertheless high: 39 men killed, 242 men wounded, and 35 men missing. The following day, a second attack was less successful. On the evening of July 8/9th, the battalion was withdrawn from the line.
Arthur Dobson was killed on July 6th. According to the battalion war diary, the period from 5th to 6th July was spent in reorganising the battalion. He therefore possibly survived 3 or 4 days of continuous fighting only to fall victim to artillery fire or sniping whilst on a working party. The area of La Boisselle remained decidedly unhealthy as it was constantly 'strafed' by the Germans.
He has no known grave, and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial Pier 13A. There is no local memorial, but he is remembered on the war memorial at Ramsbury.
Leipzig Salient
Corporal Walter 6 July 1916
Frederick John Walter was born in Great Bedwyn, and was the son of George and Emma Sabina Walter, of Fulscott (South Moreton) near Wallingford.
He enlisted with the Wiltshire Regiment and served with the 1st battalion. Although he may have been a regular soldier, his 20 years of age, and his army number, 3/9956, indicates he joined after August 1914.
His battalion moved to the Somme in the Spring of 1916, but it saw no action on the opening day of the battle. Late in the morning of July 5th, the 1st battalion moved into an already occupied first line German trench in the Leipzig Salient in order to assault the second line. This German position was known as the Leipzig Redoubt, but the Germans resisted British attempts to capture it until September. The battalion attack took place at 19.00; C company was successful in capturing part of the objective, a 300 yard section of trench, but D company was unable to capture the remainder.
Corporal Walter 6 July 1916
Frederick John Walter was born in Great Bedwyn, and was the son of George and Emma Sabina Walter, of Fulscott (South Moreton) near Wallingford.
He enlisted with the Wiltshire Regiment and served with the 1st battalion. Although he may have been a regular soldier, his 20 years of age, and his army number, 3/9956, indicates he joined after August 1914.
His battalion moved to the Somme in the Spring of 1916, but it saw no action on the opening day of the battle. Late in the morning of July 5th, the 1st battalion moved into an already occupied first line German trench in the Leipzig Salient in order to assault the second line. This German position was known as the Leipzig Redoubt, but the Germans resisted British attempts to capture it until September. The battalion attack took place at 19.00; C company was successful in capturing part of the objective, a 300 yard section of trench, but D company was unable to capture the remainder.
At 05.00am the next day, the Wiltshires were relieved by the 3rd battalion, the Worcestershire regiment, however, D and C companies of the battalion returned to the trench in the evening:
“In the evening C & D Coys were again brought up into the Leipzig Salient, C Coy taking over from the line they had capture on the night of 5th July. A Coy were placed in the Quarries to relieve the other Coy of 3rd Worcs Regt., D Coy taking the place of A Coy in support”
Frederick Walter died on a day when the battalion withdrew from the frontline. However, given that the men spent the day in dugouts, it is likely that the battalion remained exposed to enemy artillery fire.
He has no known grave, and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial Pier 13A. There is no local memorial.
The Quarries lay immediately behind the old German first line, alternatively known as Granatloch or Authuille Quarry. Today, trees surround the old quarry.
"There are two big enemy works on the Leipzig Spur: one, well to the south of the village, is (or was, for it is all blown out of shape) a six-angled star-shaped redoubt called the Wonder Work; the other, still further to the south, about a big, disused, and very evil-looking quarry, towards the end of the spur, is, or was, called the Leipzig Salient, or, by some people, the Hohenzollern, from the Hohenzollern Trench, which ran straight across the spur about halfway down the salient. In these two fortresses the enemy had two strong, evil eyries, high above us. They look down upon our line, which runs along the side of the hill below them. Though, in the end, our guns blasted the enemy off the hill, our line along that slope was a costly one to hold, since fire upon it could be observed and directed from so many points -- from the rear (above Hamel), from the left flank (on the Schwaben and near Thiepval), and from the hill itself. The hill is all skinned and scarred, and the trace of the great works can no longer be followed" [The Old Front Line by John Masefield]
"Took in the Leipzig Redoubt…I never saw such mud, or such a sight, in all my days. Other places are bad and full of death, but this was deep in mud as well, a kind of chaos of deep running holes and broken ground and filthy chasms, and pools and stands and marshes of iron-coloured water, and yellow snow and bedevilment. Old rags of wet uniform were everywhere, and bones and legs and feet and hands were sticking out of the ground" [John Masefield, letter to his wife]
“In the evening C & D Coys were again brought up into the Leipzig Salient, C Coy taking over from the line they had capture on the night of 5th July. A Coy were placed in the Quarries to relieve the other Coy of 3rd Worcs Regt., D Coy taking the place of A Coy in support”
Frederick Walter died on a day when the battalion withdrew from the frontline. However, given that the men spent the day in dugouts, it is likely that the battalion remained exposed to enemy artillery fire.
He has no known grave, and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial Pier 13A. There is no local memorial.
The Quarries lay immediately behind the old German first line, alternatively known as Granatloch or Authuille Quarry. Today, trees surround the old quarry.
"There are two big enemy works on the Leipzig Spur: one, well to the south of the village, is (or was, for it is all blown out of shape) a six-angled star-shaped redoubt called the Wonder Work; the other, still further to the south, about a big, disused, and very evil-looking quarry, towards the end of the spur, is, or was, called the Leipzig Salient, or, by some people, the Hohenzollern, from the Hohenzollern Trench, which ran straight across the spur about halfway down the salient. In these two fortresses the enemy had two strong, evil eyries, high above us. They look down upon our line, which runs along the side of the hill below them. Though, in the end, our guns blasted the enemy off the hill, our line along that slope was a costly one to hold, since fire upon it could be observed and directed from so many points -- from the rear (above Hamel), from the left flank (on the Schwaben and near Thiepval), and from the hill itself. The hill is all skinned and scarred, and the trace of the great works can no longer be followed" [The Old Front Line by John Masefield]
"Took in the Leipzig Redoubt…I never saw such mud, or such a sight, in all my days. Other places are bad and full of death, but this was deep in mud as well, a kind of chaos of deep running holes and broken ground and filthy chasms, and pools and stands and marshes of iron-coloured water, and yellow snow and bedevilment. Old rags of wet uniform were everywhere, and bones and legs and feet and hands were sticking out of the ground" [John Masefield, letter to his wife]
Second Lieutenant Hayward 7 July 1916
Private Hobbs 7 July 1916 John Stratton Hayward was one of the sons of the late Thomas and Amelia Hayward of Tidcombe Manor. His father purchased the manor in 1871, and passed the estate to an elder brother, also called Thomas. The land is farmed by members of the family today, but the manor house was purchased by George, Lord Jellicoe in 1947. On May 3rd 1915, John Hayward was one of a large number of officer cadets from the Inns of Court Training Corp who was commissioned as second lieutenant after training at Berkhamstead. As he was 32 years of age at the time of his death, he was probably in a legal career before the outbreak of war. He was posted to the 1st battalion, the Wiltshire regiment, and served in C company. William Hobbs was the second son of Edward Henry Hobbs, an agricultural labourer, and Jane Rosier of 27 Marlborough Road in Froxfield. He was born in September 1891. He enlisted in the Wiltshire regiment and served with the 1st battalion. |
The battalion diary for July 7th is remarkably detailed. At midnight, plans were made to capture the elusive section of trench in the Leipzig Redoubt :
"12.15a.m. On the early morning of the 7th orders were received that another attack would be made on the same objective as that attacked by D Coy on night of 5th. This was known to be the very strongest part of the Leipzig Redoubt. While the conference about this attack was being held, a very violent hostile counter attack was made on the trench captured by C Coy"
A strong enemy attack at 01.15am was beaten off, and the planned assault was launched at 09.30am. This attack, by A and B company, was successful.
"The attack was made in 2 waves each consisting of 3 platoons, the remaining 2 platoon held in reserve. At 9.30a.m. After 30secs intense bombardment by guns and Stokes mortars, the assault was made and the trench successfully captured. The was not accomplished without difficulty as the enemy did not seem to be taken by surprise, manning their parapet very heavily as our troops arrived. Previous to the assault our snipers had been placed in the shell holes in front of their line and fired 30 rounds of steel nosed bullets at the machine guns which had caused so many casualties in the previous attack by D Coy. Whether silenced by our snipers or by the bombardment, at any rate the enemy machine gun did not fire during our advance"
Details of casualties during this part of the day are not recorded, but probably exceeded 50 men killed or wounded. This part of the operation had gone relatively well, but the Germans were not willing to give up that easily.
"The captured trench was consolidated but being very wide afforded very little cover. But for incessant bombing from the left flank, no great difficulties were experienced until about 1.30p.m. when the enemy opened a terrific bombardment with high explosive. There was practically no protection in any part of our position particularly in the newly captured trench and in the Quarries. The bombardment lasted for about 5 hours and our casualties were enormous about 160"
John Hayward had not been involved with the morning attack, and his company probably remained in the quarries. His fate was recorded by the author of the battalion diary :
“2nd Lieut Hayward C Coy was also wounded slightly in the hand but remained at his post and was afterwards killed”
In contrast, the fate of William Hobbs is unknown. On this day, there were 225 casualties in the battalion. In the evening, the survivors of the battalion were relieved, and they moved into dugouts at Crucifix Corner.
John Hayward has no known grave and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial Panel 13A. His name appears on the roll of honour in Tidcombe church. His family also placed a personal wall memorial to him in the church, created by Lloyds of Bedwyn. The church memorial has a different date to CWGC records.
William Hobbs died of his wounds, but appears to have no known grave. He is also remembered on the Thiepval Memorial Panel 13A. His name appears on the war memorial in Froxfield churchyard.
"12.15a.m. On the early morning of the 7th orders were received that another attack would be made on the same objective as that attacked by D Coy on night of 5th. This was known to be the very strongest part of the Leipzig Redoubt. While the conference about this attack was being held, a very violent hostile counter attack was made on the trench captured by C Coy"
A strong enemy attack at 01.15am was beaten off, and the planned assault was launched at 09.30am. This attack, by A and B company, was successful.
"The attack was made in 2 waves each consisting of 3 platoons, the remaining 2 platoon held in reserve. At 9.30a.m. After 30secs intense bombardment by guns and Stokes mortars, the assault was made and the trench successfully captured. The was not accomplished without difficulty as the enemy did not seem to be taken by surprise, manning their parapet very heavily as our troops arrived. Previous to the assault our snipers had been placed in the shell holes in front of their line and fired 30 rounds of steel nosed bullets at the machine guns which had caused so many casualties in the previous attack by D Coy. Whether silenced by our snipers or by the bombardment, at any rate the enemy machine gun did not fire during our advance"
Details of casualties during this part of the day are not recorded, but probably exceeded 50 men killed or wounded. This part of the operation had gone relatively well, but the Germans were not willing to give up that easily.
"The captured trench was consolidated but being very wide afforded very little cover. But for incessant bombing from the left flank, no great difficulties were experienced until about 1.30p.m. when the enemy opened a terrific bombardment with high explosive. There was practically no protection in any part of our position particularly in the newly captured trench and in the Quarries. The bombardment lasted for about 5 hours and our casualties were enormous about 160"
John Hayward had not been involved with the morning attack, and his company probably remained in the quarries. His fate was recorded by the author of the battalion diary :
“2nd Lieut Hayward C Coy was also wounded slightly in the hand but remained at his post and was afterwards killed”
In contrast, the fate of William Hobbs is unknown. On this day, there were 225 casualties in the battalion. In the evening, the survivors of the battalion were relieved, and they moved into dugouts at Crucifix Corner.
John Hayward has no known grave and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial Panel 13A. His name appears on the roll of honour in Tidcombe church. His family also placed a personal wall memorial to him in the church, created by Lloyds of Bedwyn. The church memorial has a different date to CWGC records.
William Hobbs died of his wounds, but appears to have no known grave. He is also remembered on the Thiepval Memorial Panel 13A. His name appears on the war memorial in Froxfield churchyard.
High Wood
Private Church 20 July 1916
Charles Frederick Green Church was born in Little Bedwyn, and he was the son of Elizabeth Church of Little Bedwyn and the late H. C. Church.
In 1911, he was living in Pewsey. Prior to the war, he was employed by the Great Western railway, and he worked as a Ticket Collector in the Traffic Department at Paddington.
Charles Church enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers and served with the 20th battalion. His army number was 24723. His battalion was formed in 1914 as part of Kitchener’s New Army and moved to France in November 1915. In July 1916 it was on the Somme, and it participated in some of the worst fighting of that dismal and tragic campaign at High Wood.
High Wood was a large rectangular area of woodland whose capture was considered essential for future British operations. A first attempt to capture the wood ended in costly failure on July 14th. A second attempt, which claimed the life of Charles Church, began on July 20th. The Germans successfully defended the wood for two months until September 15th.
The battalion was in support of the 5th battalion, Scottish Rifles, and the 1st battalion, Cameronians on an attack on High Wood. The 2nd Royal Welsh Fusiliers in reserve. An artillery bombardment started at 02.55 and was continued for forty minutes. At 03.25, the infantry, having moved up from Crucifix Corner, south of the wood, began their assault. While the 20th battalion was forming up, a German shell exploded, causing 20 casualties. It was an inauspicious start. The Battalion succeeded in entering the wood, and alongside the Scottish Rifles, pushed deeper into the wood. All of the wood except for the north corner was captured, but could not be held.
The 2nd Royal Welsh Fusiliers arrived after midday, and a front line with support line was established. This line was held until relieved at midnight. The 20th battalion then returned to bivouac in Mametz Wood. The action had been at high cost to the battalion. There were 390 casualties, and approximately 140 men were killed.
Private Church 20 July 1916
Charles Frederick Green Church was born in Little Bedwyn, and he was the son of Elizabeth Church of Little Bedwyn and the late H. C. Church.
In 1911, he was living in Pewsey. Prior to the war, he was employed by the Great Western railway, and he worked as a Ticket Collector in the Traffic Department at Paddington.
Charles Church enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers and served with the 20th battalion. His army number was 24723. His battalion was formed in 1914 as part of Kitchener’s New Army and moved to France in November 1915. In July 1916 it was on the Somme, and it participated in some of the worst fighting of that dismal and tragic campaign at High Wood.
High Wood was a large rectangular area of woodland whose capture was considered essential for future British operations. A first attempt to capture the wood ended in costly failure on July 14th. A second attempt, which claimed the life of Charles Church, began on July 20th. The Germans successfully defended the wood for two months until September 15th.
The battalion was in support of the 5th battalion, Scottish Rifles, and the 1st battalion, Cameronians on an attack on High Wood. The 2nd Royal Welsh Fusiliers in reserve. An artillery bombardment started at 02.55 and was continued for forty minutes. At 03.25, the infantry, having moved up from Crucifix Corner, south of the wood, began their assault. While the 20th battalion was forming up, a German shell exploded, causing 20 casualties. It was an inauspicious start. The Battalion succeeded in entering the wood, and alongside the Scottish Rifles, pushed deeper into the wood. All of the wood except for the north corner was captured, but could not be held.
The 2nd Royal Welsh Fusiliers arrived after midday, and a front line with support line was established. This line was held until relieved at midnight. The 20th battalion then returned to bivouac in Mametz Wood. The action had been at high cost to the battalion. There were 390 casualties, and approximately 140 men were killed.
The battalion was relieved and retired to bivouac in Mametz wood. However not all of High Wood had been cleared, and by the end of the next day, it was back in German hands. It has been estimated by many commentators that the bodies of 8,000 to 10,000 soldiers , British and German, still lie inside High Wood. The woodland today, although having the appearance of High Wood before 1914, still contains a deadly harvest of munitions and discard equipment. It is also a large anonymous mass graveyard. It has reverted to its French name, Bois des Fourcaux.
Charles Church was 28 years of age, and he has no known grave. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial Panel 8 C 9 A and 16 A. He is also on the roll of Honour in Little Bedwyn church.
Charles Church was 28 years of age, and he has no known grave. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial Panel 8 C 9 A and 16 A. He is also on the roll of Honour in Little Bedwyn church.
Hamel
Private Roff 25 July 1916
Edwin Hugh Roff was the son of Charles [d1940 aged 76] and Fanny Skinner Roff [d1925 aged 51]. The family lived in Wilton, and several family members are buried at East Grafton church. Edwin Roff was born in Grafton, and worked as a farm carter before the war.
He enlisted in the Wiltshire regiment and served with the 1st battalion. His army number was 3/9995.
At the time of his death, the battalion was undergoing a period of rebuilding. On July 22, it was behind the lines at the Bois de Warnimont, on the D176 between Bus lès Artois and Authie, where it received a draft of 111 reinforcements. The following day it moved 10 kilometres eastwards into trenches at Hamel, where conditions were described as 'very quiet'.
The author of the battalion war diary records little change for July 24th: "Situation in trenches very quiet. One man was wounded. Draft of 32 OR joined Battn in the trenches". On the following day, the battalion again enjoyed a quiet day. The only exception was the activity of a few enemy trench mortars, and a wiring party that was sent out in the evening. Edwin Roff was probably the unfortunate man who was wounded at Hamel on July 24th. He was evacuated to Number 21 Casualty Clearing Station at Corbie, and this is where he died.
Private Roff 25 July 1916
Edwin Hugh Roff was the son of Charles [d1940 aged 76] and Fanny Skinner Roff [d1925 aged 51]. The family lived in Wilton, and several family members are buried at East Grafton church. Edwin Roff was born in Grafton, and worked as a farm carter before the war.
He enlisted in the Wiltshire regiment and served with the 1st battalion. His army number was 3/9995.
At the time of his death, the battalion was undergoing a period of rebuilding. On July 22, it was behind the lines at the Bois de Warnimont, on the D176 between Bus lès Artois and Authie, where it received a draft of 111 reinforcements. The following day it moved 10 kilometres eastwards into trenches at Hamel, where conditions were described as 'very quiet'.
The author of the battalion war diary records little change for July 24th: "Situation in trenches very quiet. One man was wounded. Draft of 32 OR joined Battn in the trenches". On the following day, the battalion again enjoyed a quiet day. The only exception was the activity of a few enemy trench mortars, and a wiring party that was sent out in the evening. Edwin Roff was probably the unfortunate man who was wounded at Hamel on July 24th. He was evacuated to Number 21 Casualty Clearing Station at Corbie, and this is where he died.
He was buried in La Neuville British Cemetery, adjacent to the Casualty Clearing Station. The cemetery was opened the same month that he died. He lies in plot ID54. He is also remembered on the war memorial at East Grafton.
La Bassée
Sergeant Harris 03 August 1916
Ernest Harris was the son of John and Emily Harris, of Pall Mall in Burbage. He was born in Oxford, but his family moved to Burbage before 1914. In 1911, his father, aged 75, was a labourer, but had formerly worked as a gamekeeper in Froxfield.
Ernest Harris was a regular soldier,and his army number was 7601. He enlisted in the Royal Berkshire regiment probably in 1904, and served in the 1st battalion. On January 1st 1915, Private Harris was gazetted for the award of the DCM, for "carrying urgent messages under heavy fire" on November 12, 1914. The battalion was defending the Broodseinde to Becelaere Road, immediately south of Broodseinde and north-east of Polygon wood. The frontline was couple of miles north of Reutel, where the 2nd battalion, Wiltshire regiment was overwhelmed two weeks earlier, with the deaths of two Bedwyn men.
Ernest Harris was a highly decorated soldier, later being awarded the MM with bar. He was also mentioned in dispatches. It was therefore not surprising that he should be promoted. Probably on promotion to sergeant, he was transferred to the 2nd battalion, Royal Berkshire regiment. This battalion participated in those fateful tragic actions on the first day of the battle of the Somme. At 07.30am on July 1st, the 2nd battalion advanced against German positions near Ovillers-la-Boiselle. By 11.00 am, leaderless and shattered, the 200 survivors of the battalion regrouped. Ernest Harris was one of those survivors.
There were a total of 431 casualties, approximately 50% of the battalion: 36 men were killed, 268 men were wounded, and 127 men were reported missing. When the final casualty reports were completed, there was a total of 155 men killed. Of these men, there are 96 with unknown graves.
After the disaster of the first day of the Somme, the 2nd battalion was withdrawn to reform and to receive replacements. It saw no further service on the Somme. It returned to the old stamping ground of La Bassée, and held part of the line near the village of Vermelles. On August 3rd 1916, the eve of the anniversary of the start of the war, Ernest Harris was killed. The author of the war diary recorded the day:
“In trenches. Left sub-section, right section, flank Battalions 2nd Lincolnshire regt on right flank. 2nd Northants regt on left flank. 2 men killed, 7 men wounded”
At this time the daily entries in the diary were almost the same, revealing the monotony of life in the front line. Yet for soldiers such as Ernest Harris such monotony was fatal. Almost every night, a few men were wounded or killed inevitably by trench mortars.
“The eye was continually looking upwards to discern the great canisters coughed out by the Minenwerfer. By day they could be seen rising into the air with a cumbrous wobble, pausing for an uncertain instant at the culmination of their flight, and then swooping down in a tumble to fall with a crash. At night a tail of fire betrayed their approach. Woe betide the man who heeded not their coming”
[Major Hanbury-Sparrow 2 I/C 2nd battalion]
Ernest Harris was 32 years old, and he is buried in Vermelles British Cemetery plot IIIL grave 6. He is also remembered on the war memorial at Burbage. A small note was entered in the parish magazine in September: "Sergeant Ernest Harris DCM., of the Berkshire Regt., has been killed in action, for which much regret will be felt".
Sergeant Harris 03 August 1916
Ernest Harris was the son of John and Emily Harris, of Pall Mall in Burbage. He was born in Oxford, but his family moved to Burbage before 1914. In 1911, his father, aged 75, was a labourer, but had formerly worked as a gamekeeper in Froxfield.
Ernest Harris was a regular soldier,and his army number was 7601. He enlisted in the Royal Berkshire regiment probably in 1904, and served in the 1st battalion. On January 1st 1915, Private Harris was gazetted for the award of the DCM, for "carrying urgent messages under heavy fire" on November 12, 1914. The battalion was defending the Broodseinde to Becelaere Road, immediately south of Broodseinde and north-east of Polygon wood. The frontline was couple of miles north of Reutel, where the 2nd battalion, Wiltshire regiment was overwhelmed two weeks earlier, with the deaths of two Bedwyn men.
Ernest Harris was a highly decorated soldier, later being awarded the MM with bar. He was also mentioned in dispatches. It was therefore not surprising that he should be promoted. Probably on promotion to sergeant, he was transferred to the 2nd battalion, Royal Berkshire regiment. This battalion participated in those fateful tragic actions on the first day of the battle of the Somme. At 07.30am on July 1st, the 2nd battalion advanced against German positions near Ovillers-la-Boiselle. By 11.00 am, leaderless and shattered, the 200 survivors of the battalion regrouped. Ernest Harris was one of those survivors.
There were a total of 431 casualties, approximately 50% of the battalion: 36 men were killed, 268 men were wounded, and 127 men were reported missing. When the final casualty reports were completed, there was a total of 155 men killed. Of these men, there are 96 with unknown graves.
After the disaster of the first day of the Somme, the 2nd battalion was withdrawn to reform and to receive replacements. It saw no further service on the Somme. It returned to the old stamping ground of La Bassée, and held part of the line near the village of Vermelles. On August 3rd 1916, the eve of the anniversary of the start of the war, Ernest Harris was killed. The author of the war diary recorded the day:
“In trenches. Left sub-section, right section, flank Battalions 2nd Lincolnshire regt on right flank. 2nd Northants regt on left flank. 2 men killed, 7 men wounded”
At this time the daily entries in the diary were almost the same, revealing the monotony of life in the front line. Yet for soldiers such as Ernest Harris such monotony was fatal. Almost every night, a few men were wounded or killed inevitably by trench mortars.
“The eye was continually looking upwards to discern the great canisters coughed out by the Minenwerfer. By day they could be seen rising into the air with a cumbrous wobble, pausing for an uncertain instant at the culmination of their flight, and then swooping down in a tumble to fall with a crash. At night a tail of fire betrayed their approach. Woe betide the man who heeded not their coming”
[Major Hanbury-Sparrow 2 I/C 2nd battalion]
Ernest Harris was 32 years old, and he is buried in Vermelles British Cemetery plot IIIL grave 6. He is also remembered on the war memorial at Burbage. A small note was entered in the parish magazine in September: "Sergeant Ernest Harris DCM., of the Berkshire Regt., has been killed in action, for which much regret will be felt".
Somme
Leipzig Redoubt
Private Gigg 24 August 1916
Francis Edward Gigg was born in Wexcombe, and he was the son of Charles Gigg and Martha Stout of Baydon. He had 5 siblings, and he was the husband of Florence M Gigg of Pundle View, Bartley, in the New Forest.
Francis Gigg enlisted with the Royal Wiltshire regiment, and he served with the 1st battalion. His army number was 25403. The battalion had been on the Somme since July 5th, when it had made two assaults on the Leipzig Redoubt, two Bedwyn men, John Hayward and William Hobbs lost their lives in the second of the attacks on July 7th. The Germans successfully defended the Leipzig Redoubt against piecemeal British attacks until September.
Francis Gigg died as a result of one of these attacks on August 20th, an assault on the Lemburg trench:
"In this Battn the attack was carried out by A Coy on left, B Coy in the centre and D Coy on the right. C Coy was in support. A B & D Coys assaulted at 4.10p.m. At 4.12p.m. the artillery barrage lifted Northwards and cleared the line R.31.D.65.30, 64, 35, 26, 17, R.31.C.97.76.58. 40.65 at 4.15p.m. Progress on the extreme left was slow but on the right the position was gained and consolidated immediately. Casualties were heavy, amounting to about 320"
Following the consolidation of the captured trenches, there was a heavy bombardment, which continued for the reminder of the day. Francis Gigg died of his wounds received either during the assault or in this bombardment.
Francis Gigg was 30 years of age, and he was buried at Puchevilliers British cemetery, grave IIIE 21. His name is also remembered on the war memorial at Baydon.
Leipzig Redoubt
Private Gigg 24 August 1916
Francis Edward Gigg was born in Wexcombe, and he was the son of Charles Gigg and Martha Stout of Baydon. He had 5 siblings, and he was the husband of Florence M Gigg of Pundle View, Bartley, in the New Forest.
Francis Gigg enlisted with the Royal Wiltshire regiment, and he served with the 1st battalion. His army number was 25403. The battalion had been on the Somme since July 5th, when it had made two assaults on the Leipzig Redoubt, two Bedwyn men, John Hayward and William Hobbs lost their lives in the second of the attacks on July 7th. The Germans successfully defended the Leipzig Redoubt against piecemeal British attacks until September.
Francis Gigg died as a result of one of these attacks on August 20th, an assault on the Lemburg trench:
"In this Battn the attack was carried out by A Coy on left, B Coy in the centre and D Coy on the right. C Coy was in support. A B & D Coys assaulted at 4.10p.m. At 4.12p.m. the artillery barrage lifted Northwards and cleared the line R.31.D.65.30, 64, 35, 26, 17, R.31.C.97.76.58. 40.65 at 4.15p.m. Progress on the extreme left was slow but on the right the position was gained and consolidated immediately. Casualties were heavy, amounting to about 320"
Following the consolidation of the captured trenches, there was a heavy bombardment, which continued for the reminder of the day. Francis Gigg died of his wounds received either during the assault or in this bombardment.
Francis Gigg was 30 years of age, and he was buried at Puchevilliers British cemetery, grave IIIE 21. His name is also remembered on the war memorial at Baydon.
La Bassée
Private Marsh 26 August 1916
Fred Marsh was born in Collingbourne Kingston in 1897. His parents were Frederick George Marsh and Susannah Maria, nee Studzor. His father was the bailiff for Wexcombe manor, which was owned by Kenneth MacAndrew. His mother had apparently died by 1907, for his father married Caroline Green from London, and they continued to live in Wexcombe. Fred Marsh worked in this hamlet as a stable boy and plough boy.
He enlisted in the Royal Berkshire regiment in 1914, and served in the 2nd battalion. His army number was 18554.
After its disastrous participation on the first day of the battle of the Somme, the battalion moved to the Loos area to receive replacements and to be reformed. Like Ernest Harris, Fred Marsh survived that dreadful first day on the Somme!
The battalion alternated between periods in billets at Sailly Le Bourse, and the front line. On 15 August, the battalion spent two weeks in trenches in the area of Vermelles. The 2nd battalion, the Lincolnshire regiment were on their right and the 1st battalion, the Royal Irish Rifles were on their left. The biggest threat to men of the three battalions came from enemy trench mortars. Like Ernest Harris, Fred Marsh, may have been a victim of these weapons. However, Fred Marsh was wounded, not killed, in Vermelles.
Fred Marsh died in one of five military hospitals in Calais. On August 26th, the battalion war diary recorded "2 men killed, 5 men wounded, 1 man missing, 1 man to Hospital, 1 from Hospital". It is unlikely that Fred Marsh was evacuated to one of these hospitals on the same day, and he may have been wounded a day or so earlier. The war diary records the battalion casualties during the days preceding his death:
23 August 2 men wounded, 1 man to Hospital.
24 August 1 man killed, 4 men wounded, 2 men to Hospital, 1 from Hospital.
25 August 3 men wounded, 1 man to Hospital, 1 from Hospital.
Fred Marsh is buried in Calais Southern Cemetery Plot E.5.2. His name is also on the war memorial at East Grafton.
Private Marsh 26 August 1916
Fred Marsh was born in Collingbourne Kingston in 1897. His parents were Frederick George Marsh and Susannah Maria, nee Studzor. His father was the bailiff for Wexcombe manor, which was owned by Kenneth MacAndrew. His mother had apparently died by 1907, for his father married Caroline Green from London, and they continued to live in Wexcombe. Fred Marsh worked in this hamlet as a stable boy and plough boy.
He enlisted in the Royal Berkshire regiment in 1914, and served in the 2nd battalion. His army number was 18554.
After its disastrous participation on the first day of the battle of the Somme, the battalion moved to the Loos area to receive replacements and to be reformed. Like Ernest Harris, Fred Marsh survived that dreadful first day on the Somme!
The battalion alternated between periods in billets at Sailly Le Bourse, and the front line. On 15 August, the battalion spent two weeks in trenches in the area of Vermelles. The 2nd battalion, the Lincolnshire regiment were on their right and the 1st battalion, the Royal Irish Rifles were on their left. The biggest threat to men of the three battalions came from enemy trench mortars. Like Ernest Harris, Fred Marsh, may have been a victim of these weapons. However, Fred Marsh was wounded, not killed, in Vermelles.
Fred Marsh died in one of five military hospitals in Calais. On August 26th, the battalion war diary recorded "2 men killed, 5 men wounded, 1 man missing, 1 man to Hospital, 1 from Hospital". It is unlikely that Fred Marsh was evacuated to one of these hospitals on the same day, and he may have been wounded a day or so earlier. The war diary records the battalion casualties during the days preceding his death:
23 August 2 men wounded, 1 man to Hospital.
24 August 1 man killed, 4 men wounded, 2 men to Hospital, 1 from Hospital.
25 August 3 men wounded, 1 man to Hospital, 1 from Hospital.
Fred Marsh is buried in Calais Southern Cemetery Plot E.5.2. His name is also on the war memorial at East Grafton.
Somme
The Somme campaign needlessly struggled into late Autumn without any rhyme or reason other Haig’s desire to wear down the German army by attrition. Men on the Somme struggled to survive and continued to die. The war of attrition favoured none of the belligerents.
Serre
Lance Corporal Hillier 04 October 1916
Arthur William Hillier was the son of Thomas Hillier and Mary Jane Tilly in Burbage. In 1901, his father was a cattleman aged 39, and was born in Bishops Cannings in 1852. Arthur Hillier was born in Fyfield in 1893. The family moved to Burbage from Fyfield between 1895 and 1898.
Arthur Hillier enlisted with the Royal Berkshire regiment, and served with the 1st battalion. His Army number was 17505.
The 1st battalion entered the battle of the Somme, when it launched an assault on Delville wood on July 27th. It suffered 264 casualties in two days of fighting. It remained in the Somme, first near Carnoy, then back to Delville wood. On 25th August, it moved to the quieter Hébuterne sector, opposite the village of Serre. Here the battered and bruised battalion rested and reformed.
The Somme campaign needlessly struggled into late Autumn without any rhyme or reason other Haig’s desire to wear down the German army by attrition. Men on the Somme struggled to survive and continued to die. The war of attrition favoured none of the belligerents.
Serre
Lance Corporal Hillier 04 October 1916
Arthur William Hillier was the son of Thomas Hillier and Mary Jane Tilly in Burbage. In 1901, his father was a cattleman aged 39, and was born in Bishops Cannings in 1852. Arthur Hillier was born in Fyfield in 1893. The family moved to Burbage from Fyfield between 1895 and 1898.
Arthur Hillier enlisted with the Royal Berkshire regiment, and served with the 1st battalion. His Army number was 17505.
The 1st battalion entered the battle of the Somme, when it launched an assault on Delville wood on July 27th. It suffered 264 casualties in two days of fighting. It remained in the Somme, first near Carnoy, then back to Delville wood. On 25th August, it moved to the quieter Hébuterne sector, opposite the village of Serre. Here the battered and bruised battalion rested and reformed.
However, the period of rest included large numbers of working parties in preparation for the battle of Ancre. Many trenches at Serre were in a poor state and had collapsed due to the weather; men such as Arthur William Hillier were employed on these working parties. The work was dangerous as German trench mortars were very active in the area. British artillery was also making its presence felt, in an attempt to destroy German wire in front of the village of Serre. It was in conditions such as these that Arthur Hillier was fatally wounded.
Arthur Hillier was 23 years old when he was buried in Euston Road cemetery near Colincamps. This cemetery was just within the Allied lines before the Somme offensive of July 1916. He lies in Plot IC grave 46. Arthur Hillier is also remembered on the war memorial at St. Katherine’s church, Savernake.
Arthur Hillier was 23 years old when he was buried in Euston Road cemetery near Colincamps. This cemetery was just within the Allied lines before the Somme offensive of July 1916. He lies in Plot IC grave 46. Arthur Hillier is also remembered on the war memorial at St. Katherine’s church, Savernake.
Hébuterne
Private Ponting 5 October 1916
Frank Ponting was born in 1897, and he was the son of William Ponting and Ellen Hibberd, of Rectory Lane, All Cannings, near Devizes. His father was a forester, a dairy farmer, and at one time employed as a steward to the Earl of Ailesbury. He died in 1906, and his widow married a Frederick Stevens in 1908. In 1911, Frank worked as a ploughboy, and the family lived at 143 Eastcourt, Burbage. However just before the outbreak of war, the family moved to Bishopstone. Work was found on Cue farm, which also provided accommodation.
Frank Ponting was part of a draft of men who originally enlisted in the Wiltshire regiment, but were posted as reinforcments to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 1/8 Battalion. This was a Territorial battalion which mobilised on August 4th 1914, and after training, moved to France in March 1915. The Wiltshire contingent of the battalion sadly arrived in time for one of their number to be killed on July 1st, the first day of the battle of the Somme. By the end of the battle, another 46 Wiltshire men, including Frank Ponting, had been killed.
The battalion saw action on July 1st, suffering 588 casualties out of a probable 800 men that advanced against the Quadrilateral, a German strongpoint between Beaumont Hamel and Serre. After this disastrous first day of fighting, the battalion was pulled out of line and received a number of drafts to bring it back up to full strength. Most of July and August was spent in training or working parties. However, on August 27th, the battalion suffered a further 150 casualties in a failed attempt to capture Pozières and Mouquet Farm. It is assumed that Frank Ponting participated in this fighting.
The 1/8 battalion spent most of September and October on the Somme, but was involved in no further actions. Apart from periods of holding the line, most of the time seemed to have been spent on working parties. On October 5th, the battalion was at St. Amand. Frank Ponting was one of two men killed on what according to the the battalion war diary was an overcast rainy day. The two men may have been killed whilst employed on a working party, for they are buried close to the front line at Hébuterne. An extract from the 7th battalion, Yorkshire Regiment's war diary, written at the beginning of September, describes what a quiet day or night could include:
"Quiet night. Two heavy trench mortars were located and shelled. Patrols encountered none of the enemy. Usual trench routine. A great deal of work is being carried on re-claiming trenches. Draining and making deep dugouts, etc. Hostile artillery inactive.
Quiet in the trenches. A few shells fell in HEBUTERNE on 2 September 1916 during the afternoon. 3 of these left a strong smell of sulphur for over 12 hours in the craters formed. At night machine gun fired directed on out front line 2 or 3 times during the night 2nd-3rd. Enemy working parties are seen every day chiefly on their rear lines and behind the trenches. Our patrols have seen no movements of the enemy outside his trenches"
The 1/8 battalion may have been preparing for an assault on Gommecourt, the scene of a disastrous attack on July 1st, but plans for this operation were abandoned in the middle of October.
Private Ponting 5 October 1916
Frank Ponting was born in 1897, and he was the son of William Ponting and Ellen Hibberd, of Rectory Lane, All Cannings, near Devizes. His father was a forester, a dairy farmer, and at one time employed as a steward to the Earl of Ailesbury. He died in 1906, and his widow married a Frederick Stevens in 1908. In 1911, Frank worked as a ploughboy, and the family lived at 143 Eastcourt, Burbage. However just before the outbreak of war, the family moved to Bishopstone. Work was found on Cue farm, which also provided accommodation.
Frank Ponting was part of a draft of men who originally enlisted in the Wiltshire regiment, but were posted as reinforcments to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 1/8 Battalion. This was a Territorial battalion which mobilised on August 4th 1914, and after training, moved to France in March 1915. The Wiltshire contingent of the battalion sadly arrived in time for one of their number to be killed on July 1st, the first day of the battle of the Somme. By the end of the battle, another 46 Wiltshire men, including Frank Ponting, had been killed.
The battalion saw action on July 1st, suffering 588 casualties out of a probable 800 men that advanced against the Quadrilateral, a German strongpoint between Beaumont Hamel and Serre. After this disastrous first day of fighting, the battalion was pulled out of line and received a number of drafts to bring it back up to full strength. Most of July and August was spent in training or working parties. However, on August 27th, the battalion suffered a further 150 casualties in a failed attempt to capture Pozières and Mouquet Farm. It is assumed that Frank Ponting participated in this fighting.
The 1/8 battalion spent most of September and October on the Somme, but was involved in no further actions. Apart from periods of holding the line, most of the time seemed to have been spent on working parties. On October 5th, the battalion was at St. Amand. Frank Ponting was one of two men killed on what according to the the battalion war diary was an overcast rainy day. The two men may have been killed whilst employed on a working party, for they are buried close to the front line at Hébuterne. An extract from the 7th battalion, Yorkshire Regiment's war diary, written at the beginning of September, describes what a quiet day or night could include:
"Quiet night. Two heavy trench mortars were located and shelled. Patrols encountered none of the enemy. Usual trench routine. A great deal of work is being carried on re-claiming trenches. Draining and making deep dugouts, etc. Hostile artillery inactive.
Quiet in the trenches. A few shells fell in HEBUTERNE on 2 September 1916 during the afternoon. 3 of these left a strong smell of sulphur for over 12 hours in the craters formed. At night machine gun fired directed on out front line 2 or 3 times during the night 2nd-3rd. Enemy working parties are seen every day chiefly on their rear lines and behind the trenches. Our patrols have seen no movements of the enemy outside his trenches"
The 1/8 battalion may have been preparing for an assault on Gommecourt, the scene of a disastrous attack on July 1st, but plans for this operation were abandoned in the middle of October.
Frank Ponting was 19 years old, and he is buried in Hébuterne Military Cemetery, grave IF15. The cemetery lies west of the village. Despite his association with Burbage, he is not remembered locally. His name appears on the Bishopstone war memorial.
[ See Paul Williams NOV 2012 Bishopstone & Hinton Parva Village News magazine].
Charles Ponting, the uncle of Frank Ponting, was a famous local architect. Charles Ponting died at Parkstone on 19th January 1932, aged 82, and he was buried with his wife and parents at Christ Church, Cadley. The family plot is marked by a granite Celtic cross.
[ See Paul Williams NOV 2012 Bishopstone & Hinton Parva Village News magazine].
Charles Ponting, the uncle of Frank Ponting, was a famous local architect. Charles Ponting died at Parkstone on 19th January 1932, aged 82, and he was buried with his wife and parents at Christ Church, Cadley. The family plot is marked by a granite Celtic cross.
Montauban
Private Talbot 16 October 1916
Earnest George Talbot was the son of Stephen and Emma Talbot at Tidcombe
He enlisted in the Wiltshire Regiment and served with the 2nd battalion. His army number was 12613. In 1916, the battalion was part of the 21st Brigade in the 30th Division. On the first day of the battle of the Somme, the battalion fought at Montauban, and remained in the area until the end of the month. At the beginning of October, the battalion moved into the area of Flers. By this time, the wet conditions resulted in a quagmire of mud. The battalion was in the Switch Trench beyond High Wood on October 11th:
"Battalion moved to Switch Trench via Montauban and Bazentin le Grand arriving at about 9.0am The day was spent in improving trenches and making shelters. Our artillery bombarded the enemy's positions all day & night"
Two days later, the battalion was in the front line, but on the 15th October, it had pulled back to the Switch Trench:
"The enemy barraged our front line from 5.0am until 5.10am when he lifted onto support lines and remained there until 5.45am. No attack followed. Usual artillery activity. Battalion was relieved by 19th Manchester Regt and moved back to Flers Trench west of Turk lane and Flers Support. This relief was shelled and we sustained about 12 casualties"
Turks lane was a two metre deep, eight kilometer long communication trench, which was completed by New Zealand pioneers in September. The section of this trench is shown on the map in square 6 a and 6 c, extending north to the front line. The trench was started at Montauban.
Private Talbot 16 October 1916
Earnest George Talbot was the son of Stephen and Emma Talbot at Tidcombe
He enlisted in the Wiltshire Regiment and served with the 2nd battalion. His army number was 12613. In 1916, the battalion was part of the 21st Brigade in the 30th Division. On the first day of the battle of the Somme, the battalion fought at Montauban, and remained in the area until the end of the month. At the beginning of October, the battalion moved into the area of Flers. By this time, the wet conditions resulted in a quagmire of mud. The battalion was in the Switch Trench beyond High Wood on October 11th:
"Battalion moved to Switch Trench via Montauban and Bazentin le Grand arriving at about 9.0am The day was spent in improving trenches and making shelters. Our artillery bombarded the enemy's positions all day & night"
Two days later, the battalion was in the front line, but on the 15th October, it had pulled back to the Switch Trench:
"The enemy barraged our front line from 5.0am until 5.10am when he lifted onto support lines and remained there until 5.45am. No attack followed. Usual artillery activity. Battalion was relieved by 19th Manchester Regt and moved back to Flers Trench west of Turk lane and Flers Support. This relief was shelled and we sustained about 12 casualties"
Turks lane was a two metre deep, eight kilometer long communication trench, which was completed by New Zealand pioneers in September. The section of this trench is shown on the map in square 6 a and 6 c, extending north to the front line. The trench was started at Montauban.
On October 16th, the battalion was rested, but suffered several casualties due to heavy shelling. In fact, there were 60 casualties in the battalion due to this shelling, and 42 other ranks were taken from the transport lines the next day to replace them. Earnest Talbot was unfortunately one of those 60 casualties. Two days after his death, the battalion joined an unsuccessful attack on Gird Trench and the Sunken Trench, and it suffered 364 casualties.
Earnest Talbot has no known grave, but is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial Pier and Face 13 A. His name is also on the roll of honour at Tidcombe church.
Earnest Talbot has no known grave, but is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial Pier and Face 13 A. His name is also on the roll of honour at Tidcombe church.
Courcelette
Lance Sergeant Hyde 7 November 1916
Arthur Frederick Hyde was born in London in 1891, and he was the son of Frederick and Frances Hyde. His father died in Morden in 1895. His mother moved, or returned, to Grafton, and possibly lived with her sister, Sarah Clarke (?). She died in August 1935, at the age of 82 years. Arthur Hyde probably spent his formative years in Grafton.
Arthur Hyde apparently enlisted in the army, but his term of service must have been short, for he emigrated to Australia in 1910. He probably lived with his sister, Mrs E Hall of 100 Green Hills Street, Croydon, New South Wales, and worked as a milk carter (milkman) or ironmonger. In June 1915, he enlisted with the 18th battalion, Australian Imperial Force, and completed basic training in three months. On September 30th, he embarked on HMAT Argyllshire at Sydney for Egypt, with the fourth group of reinforcements to be despatched to the battalion.
After Arthur Hyde joined the battalion in Egypt, there was a short period of training before the battalion was sent to the Western Front in March 1916. After participating in the costly battle at Pozieres, the battalion was withdrawn in August to recover before returning to the Somme in October. On the date of his death, the AIF was involved in the futile actions at Gueudecourt. The weather consisted of drenching rain and gale force winds. Conditions were so appalling, that movement was restricted on a mud dominated battlefield. However the 18th battalion was not directly involved, and Arthur Hyde was probably killed as the result of shelling or sniping in the trenches.
Lance Sergeant Hyde 7 November 1916
Arthur Frederick Hyde was born in London in 1891, and he was the son of Frederick and Frances Hyde. His father died in Morden in 1895. His mother moved, or returned, to Grafton, and possibly lived with her sister, Sarah Clarke (?). She died in August 1935, at the age of 82 years. Arthur Hyde probably spent his formative years in Grafton.
Arthur Hyde apparently enlisted in the army, but his term of service must have been short, for he emigrated to Australia in 1910. He probably lived with his sister, Mrs E Hall of 100 Green Hills Street, Croydon, New South Wales, and worked as a milk carter (milkman) or ironmonger. In June 1915, he enlisted with the 18th battalion, Australian Imperial Force, and completed basic training in three months. On September 30th, he embarked on HMAT Argyllshire at Sydney for Egypt, with the fourth group of reinforcements to be despatched to the battalion.
After Arthur Hyde joined the battalion in Egypt, there was a short period of training before the battalion was sent to the Western Front in March 1916. After participating in the costly battle at Pozieres, the battalion was withdrawn in August to recover before returning to the Somme in October. On the date of his death, the AIF was involved in the futile actions at Gueudecourt. The weather consisted of drenching rain and gale force winds. Conditions were so appalling, that movement was restricted on a mud dominated battlefield. However the 18th battalion was not directly involved, and Arthur Hyde was probably killed as the result of shelling or sniping in the trenches.
Arthur Hyde was originally buried with eight other Australian soldiers at concentration map reference 57c. m.19. a.3.9. This location is a small field 300 yards above the Y junction on the D107, (roads to Petit Miraumont and Pys from Courcelette), and 400 yards east of the Pys road. The village of Courcelette was captured by the Canadians in September, and Arthur Hyde's grave was only a short distance behind the firing lines established in November. Immediately north of his original grave was Regina Trench. The Canadians first attacked this strong defence lien on October 1st, but it took six weeks and many lives to capture it..
Arthur Frederick Hyde was 25 years old, and was buried at Warlencourt Cemetery plot VI. E. grave 33, in 1920. He is also remembered on the war memorial at Grafton. In Australia, his name is located at panel 85 in the Commemorative Arearo at the Australian War Memorial.
END 1916.
Arthur Frederick Hyde was 25 years old, and was buried at Warlencourt Cemetery plot VI. E. grave 33, in 1920. He is also remembered on the war memorial at Grafton. In Australia, his name is located at panel 85 in the Commemorative Arearo at the Australian War Memorial.
END 1916.